Bob MacIntyre breaks into world's top 50 for first time

Bob MacIntyre has broken into the world’s top 50 for the first time after marking his 50th European Tour appearance with a sixth top-three effort and 12th finish in the top 10.
Bob Macintyre tees off the 15th hole during the third round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.Bob Macintyre tees off the 15th hole during the third round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.
Bob Macintyre tees off the 15th hole during the third round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

The 24-year-old from Oban was a touch disappointed about having to settle for third spot behind Paul Casey after a closing 74 in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club.

But, on the back of his latest strong display, MacIntyre has risen to 44th, a jump of eight spots, in the updated rankings.

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He has climbed above Tiger Woods and also Bubba Watson, making MacIntyre the top-ranked left-hander in the game right now.

The young Scot needs to stay inside the top 50 on 25 March to secure his debut in the Masters in April.

“It would be unbelievable,” MacInytre told Sky Sports Golf of his breakthrough into the game’s top ranks. “But it’s not done until 25 March that Augusta one. So I’ve got a lot of work to do.

“I just want to keep believing in myself. If I can keep giving myself these chances week in week out like this one today, I’m going to bundle over the line again at some point.”

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The left-hander shared the lead with Casey after an early birdie before dropping four shots in a row around the turn, but he dug in thereafter.

“That’s what I do, I fight to the end,” he said. “It was the start I was looking for. I thought, ‘here we go, we are on to one’.

“But, you know, sometimes it doesn’t go for you and today was one of those days.

“Right now, I’m not going to learn anything as I felt I gave one away there today. But, when I go away, I’ll learn a lot.”

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MacIntyre was full of praise for winner Casey, saying: “He was brilliant. He stuck to his own game. He controlled himself brilliantly. I’ve just got to look up to that and see where I can get to.”

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